Spectacular fly for ID please and appendage

Dillybythesea · #1 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 02:47 PM

This today - looks a bit like a robber fly with that proboscis, but not the same otherwise - and I was thinking it had a strange tip to the abdomen, till I looked again and decided it's a separate attachment! So for a supplementary question, what's hitching a ride, please?

UB4 gardener · #2 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 02:56 PM

scorpion fly, the appendage is how it gets its common name.

Chris

Johnny81 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 03:03 PM

Agree Scorpian fly Panorpa sp., haven't seen many myself this year.

Dillybythesea · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 03:03 PM

Thanks Chris! Such a good name! And I'm so relieved for the fly that it's supposed to look like that and didn't have some kind of mite attached. With the gale blowing it didn't seem fair to be hampered! Off now to find out more about Scorpion flies...

Dillybythesea · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 03:30 PM

Am back with a PS, please. I read that Panorpa communis is the most common Scorpion fly, so probably this is one of those. But looking at this diagram of the genitalia for the three choices I'm not sure, when I look at these close-ups of mine ...

Google Images

So please could someone tell me which it is, or if I need to stick with Panorpa sp.?

Matt Smith · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 03:42 PM

I had a look in my AIDGAP key to these beasties and it appears you need to look at the "lower surface" of the genital capsule. I presume what they mean by this is the "lower surface" of the capsule as it appears in life when it is curved over the body, which would make it the dorsal surface.

I think Panorpa sp is the limit with these pictures.

Jason Green · #7 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 03:52 PM

On p200 under 'KEY TO MALES', it says:

'Look at the lower (ventral) suface of the genital capsule to see the features. Note that if the capsule is held forward over the body then the ventral side would be upwards!'

So, in Rhona's third picture in post #1 you see the top of it as you need - but not big enough or in sufficient detail. I agree with:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Smith